What a disappointment. I don’t think I’ve ever been this bored and frustrated by a series finale. It’s embarrassing really that Mark Schwan let this episode (or better yet this season) even air. How could he let a show that was so wonderful and charming in its first four seasons deteriorate into such a mess of a production.
This finale encompassed all the flaws that had become so prevalent on One Tree Hill over the last few years: the horribly imposing music, the cheesy romantic talk, the lack of basically any sort of conflict! It just boggles my mind as this show once had so much potential in its prime. I tried to enjoy the finale but I really couldn’t. It felt like a slap in the face to all the loyal fans who stuck with this show no matter what. Did we really need so many longing gazes and people constantly reiterating how in love they are and how perfect their lives are? Did we have to spend so much time with Chris and Chase, the most useless vacuums of all time? And did we REALLY need so many scenes of people singing? Kill. Me. Now.
However, there were some aspects I enjoyed. The finale definitely started out with promise as Nathan, Haley and Brooke watched their old selves. Moreover, for the first time ever, I really loved Clay, Quinn, and Logan (took them long enough to become likeable). The moment when Logan called Quin “Mom” when she least expected it was undoubtedly touching.
Probably the one thing that satisfied me most (and which will earn this finale a semi-passing grade) was watching the cast singing the theme song “I Don’t Wanna Be.” It just felt like such a meta moment and it was phenomenal. Had the finale ended with that moment and then all of them at the cafe having a good time, I would have probably said I loved the hour because final scenes really do make or break a finale However, Mark Schwan had to DRAG it out into the overly long useless flash-forward where our whole cast stared out for what seemed like an eternity as Jamie made his way out on to the basketball court. Cringeworthy.
Must Download Songs
Blind Pilot – Half Moon
Gavin DeGraw – Soldier
Conclusion
Ultimately, I was sadly extremely disappointed by the One Tree Hill series finale. While it had some touching moments, it unfortunately further cemented just how low this once iconic show had fallen and how much it had grossly overstayed its welcome. Here’s hoping its talented cast remain part of our lives through other projects because they deserve much better than this mess.
Nad Rating
C-
I would have to say my favorite moment was watching brooke walk into Peyton's old room set. THAT was a meta moment. It's mostly because i'm obssessed with tv sets… just look at my rather large and freaky videos of walkthroughs of the Halliwell Manor set.
I fast-fwded through the rest of it coz of the cringe-worthy dialogue. Also, you're so right: WHERE THE HELL IS THE CONFLICT? And the music they used in the promo for this episode is better than the music in this episode.
I've only been watching One Tree Hill for two years so I wasn't really affected by how unsatisfying it was. Have you been watching since it came out? Wasn't it heartbreaking to have such a horrible series finale?
I watched the first 4 seasons on and off or during the summer break when nothing else was on… I gave up on it 5 years ago and only checked in on the occasional ep. Sophia Bush was my one and only reason for watching.
So no i wasn't disappointed, i've come to accept that it's a terrible show that has good music.